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Google's recent move to support SSL encryption in its page rankings on the Internet may wind up increasing the number of encrypted websites online. Google is attempting to use HTTPS as a ranking signal because it is helping Google to achieve stronger results in its rankings and because security is important for the Internet as a whole, according to its Online Security Blog. Why are SSL certificates so important to Google? It has more to do with the way that the Net works as a whole than it might appear at first glance.

Building a better web
Because much of Google's revenue is ad content, it are interested in building a public perception of security on the Internet. This means that it will take steps to ensure that the Web as a whole is more secure today than it was yesterday, which suggests that it will push for stronger encryption of website information. The upside to this is that customers who use e-commerce sites may find that their favorite networks are now more secure than they used to be, and that those who are still not using any form of SSL certificates may be pressured into joining the rest of the world. Google's entry on its blog even included tips that were designed to help webmasters who were a little unfamiliar with the concept of HTTPS as a protocol to better understand the cybersecurity tool they were being asked to obtain.

Because of recent hacking attempts and snooping revelations, there is a stronger push to implement security at every level of the internet. Those who are adopting SSL certificates now should be ready to implement a few more steps to make sure that their newly encrypted communications are still secure in some of the other areas they store or use data. Recently, hacker attacks on healthcare providers have skyrocketed due to the prevalence of security measures in other industries.

Hackers find greener pastures in healthcare
Over 4.3 million patients suffered the theft of their personal information from hackers who targeted a healthcare branch, according to TechNewsWorld​ contributor John Mello. Because hospital records are linked to insurance documents and bank accounts, they are easy targets for thieves who want to either use the information they obtain or sell it to someone else who can make use of it.  Then, credit card information can be used to finance stronger, more sophisticated cyberattacks that can net even more money for the criminals.

Healthcare organizations can be tempting targets for cybersnoops because their servers tend to be relatively vulnerable relative to the amount of juicy information they have inside. Doctors and nurses need to communicate with each other on a regular basis in the process of taking care of their patients, which means it can be difficult for them to deal with the constant security protocols that they need to keep up with in order to preserve the confidentiality of patient information. As medical staff are not typically not technical workers, many medical staff don't understand the risk that bad security habits can bring to a hospital or to a patient.

SSL is a major step forward
In order to be sure that a given website or server is secure, it is important to develop a checklist of things that it must have in order to be considered responsible. Encryption at many layers, strong employee protocol for security, and passwords that are not weak are all important. Obtaining an SSL certificate can greatly boost the reliability of the security on a given website, protecting any in-transit data that it may handle.

If your company has an online component, you should make sure to buy an SSL certificate today to keep your customers safe. 

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Thawte
The Gateway
Century Lane
Century City, 7441
Cape Town
South Africa

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South Africa

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